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Show Journalism M AS all people know, the late Joseph Pulitzer left a great endowment to Columbia Uni- versity with which to establish a "school of H journalism. Dr. G. W. Hosmer, in the current H Review of Reviews, describes what Mr. Pulitzer H had in mind when he framed up his gift. His H thought was that journalism "is the only great or- H ganized force which is actively and as a body up- H holding the standard of civic righteousness." He M never dreamed that any school could make a H great journalist. His thought was to move some M obstructions out of the path of young journalists, M to give them a better chance; to dignify the pro- H fession of the journalist, to more firmly fix the M impression of what tho press should be. The H details of his plan are not given, only the gen- H eral outlines. H All of us probably have our idea of what the H press should be: most of us are grieved that it H does not come nearer fulfilling its high mission. M Maybe it will after awhile, but it does not yet. M Richeleau is made to say: "Tho pen in M hands entirely great, is mightier than the M sword." But the trouble is to find the hand. M Tho greatest journalist of the last generation, H after all had no higher respect for his profession IH or foi the public, than to use the columns of his m journal to gratify his personal spites and to H punish those whom he held as his personal H enemies. That is the trouble. His columns could H not have been purchased for any amount of M money; his judgment was infallible when applied H If lo anything save what affected him personally; H 1 1 he could have stated with absolute clearness H 1 1 what the patrons of a newspaper had a right to H t expect from the journal; his style was faultless; H his language perfect in English and in taste, but H , the mention of the name of a man whom he did Hjp not like, had the same effect that a red flag has H ' upon a bull. H ( No school of journalism could ever have H , changed him. H I Then there are so many other things in the H way. For instance, a partisan editor, unless he H keeps perpetual watch upon himself is liable to H become a special attorney for his party and H J sometimes unfair and unjust. H - Again, so many mistake their calling and be- M i lieve their minds are perpetual springs, when in M truth they are but shallow reservoirs. M ' ' Again, many a man presides over a paper m year after year, believing his heart is broad H and-warm, when in truth he is hedged around I by a narrow provincialism which makes it impossible im-possible for him to get out of a shallow groove. Then there are - many dishonest journals; then so many mere organs of some ism or in- . terest; then so many men who are poor, who t cannot do with their journals as they would. Then the mental drain of a newspaper is so exacting and ceaseless it is not strange that the M world shows so few great journalists. And the H universities cannot make great journalists. They M can help, but the materials are too scarce, the M requirements too great. |